HABITAT Living Lab brings together art, cheese-making traditions and research on sustainable tourism in Puglia – Italy
26/03/2026
From 3 to 20 February, the Creative Living Lab HABITAT organized by CNA Bari-BAT took place between Gioia del Colle and Gravina in Puglia (Italy), bringing together artistic research, artisanal knowledge and new approaches to sustainable cultural tourism.
The lab featured the participation of artist Francesco Strabone, artisan Rosamaria Derosa, one of the owners of the Caseificio Fratelli Derosa dairy, Rosa Surico, president of the cultural association VIBR_AZIONI APS, and Croatian artist-tutor Bojan Šumonja, ensuring an international and cross-border dimension to the laboratory.
The programme began with an exploration of the local territory and production systems, including visits to dairies, farms and underground sites, highlighting the connection between landscape, microclimate and local identity. Special focus was given to the Pallone di Gravina cheese as both a product and a cultural expression of the area.
This was followed by a creative phase led by Francesco Strabone, with a collective process of observation and experimentation focused on the microscopic world of molds, on surfaces, and on material transformations, translated into a photographic research project.
The creative living lab concluded with a public event at the former Paolo Cassano distillery in Gioia del Colle, where a photographic exhibition and a thematic tourism itinerary were presented. The event also involved institutional representatives, who expressed appreciation for the initiative and interest in potential future developments related to sustainable tourism and the promotion of local artisanal supply chains.
The event closed with a convivial moment featuring a tasting of local products from the Gioia del Colle and Gravina in Puglia areas, reinforcing the connection between artistic research, artisanal knowledge, and local gastronomic culture.
